The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-04-13
fur the CHILDREN.
How Tower Took Care OF Dennis.

although the ice was more than foot
thick on the pond, his mother was
nervous woman who didn't much be-
lieve in ice. 1t was always very hard
work to get leave to go. His father
was away from home, did not expect
to get home until midnight, and Dennis
had planned to give himself leave to
go without saying anything to anybody.
He wouldn't actually have disobeyed his
mother for anything, but he tried to
reason himself into the notion that to
go off without saying anything to her
was quite another thing.
When he went to pump pail of
water for Aunt Sarah, he brought his
skates out in his pocket and hid them
behind the wood-pile, so as to have them
ready. Then he began to plan how to
slip away quietly. The wood-boxes
were full of wood and the pals were
full of water. Everything was done.
The COW, luckily, was in Uncle Ma
than's hands this week; and the horse
was ten miles or more away with the
father. He could go just as well as
not. He had run around the corner in
search of his skates, when Towers
bark was heard coming nearer to him.
Bother" said Dennis, sit will never
do to let Tower follow me. Bobby
will want him, and cry for him; and
then we will be missed, and it will be
all found out. Tower, what do you
want?" Tower wagged his tail and
barked with all his mi ght, and danced
around his master, and ran toward the
house and ran back again, and said, as
plainly as if he had tongue, " You are
for you" Dennis muttered a little,
but he obeyed the call.
Dennis" his mother said, as he
stamped the snow from his boots, 'you
will have to run to the village; the mo-
lasses jug is empty. l just found it
out, and l want to make cookies" A
long walk through the snow, Just in
the opposite direction from the pond!
No help for it, though; and Dennis
shouldered the jug and started.
eff Tower hadn't barked like
fury should have been off; and then
Peggy could have gone for the molas-
SEES, and no harm done" This was the
pleasant thought that comforted him as
he trudged along. More than an hour
after, he hurried around to the wood
pile in search of his skates. Where in
the world had they gone? He knew
just the corner into which he had
tucked them, but they were not to be
found. He whistled and danced while
he hunted, to keep from getting angry;
but it was certainly very provoking.
The sun getting lower and lower every
minute, he pulled half the wood-pile
down in his eager search, and then had
to pile it up again. Still no skates. He
felt cold and cross. Not knowing what
else to do, he went slowly toward the
house. Dennis" his mother said,
where in the world did Tower get
your skates? He came Juggling them
in, and wagging his tail as though he
had found prize"
What a nuisance he is" Dennis
said, as he stopped to pick up the
skates. Then he started for the door,
but Aunt Sarah was too quick for him.
Denny" she said, "just run into
Mrs. Tabor's, and borrow her corn
pepper for me; and III make you a
pint of snowtlakes for evening"" Corn
snowfakes were favorite dish with
Dennis, but just now he wished there
were no such thing.
"That bothering dog!" he muttered
"Id most like to shoot him." But
he went for the corn-popper.
Mother and Aunt Sarah were laugh
ing when he came back. "Towzer
means you shall take care of your
things" mother said &c He has taken
your skates and gone. / don't know
whether he is going skating or to the
attic"
6 think you might have stopped
him." Dennis said, as he rushed off.
Tower was found coming from the
garnet. He had put the skates in their
place; but, in his zeal, he had broken
the buckle. With gloomy face Den
mis- set to work to fix it. "I'll have
most an hour, l guess" he said,
hopefully, when the mending was
done. "And. Master Tower, III shut
you up in the barn. You won't be
missed for that time, guess; and l
shall never get away if you keep MAX
ing errands for me. I'd take you along,
if you wouldn't keep racing at our
heels all the time and tripping us up"
So Tower was called into the barn and
the door shut; and Dennis went the
back way, through snow-bank as high
as his head, to avoid passing by the
kitchen windows. Down on the back
street, away round the corner from his
home, Dennis suddenly stopped and list
ened. What he heard was Towers
cheerful bark coming nearer and nearer,
until suddenly he wallowed through
the snow and stood with eager wag and
bark right in his path. How under
the sun did you get the barn-door
open?' Dennis said, stopping and look
ing at him in utter surprise. " Well,
well, what can have happened now? |
shall just have to trudge back, for
somebody has been into the barn" Back
he went, and Tower went with him.
On the way into the yard he met
Bobby, bundled up to his chin.
go Dennis" he said, speaking fast
and putting like little engine, where
have you been? Tower and | have
been looking all over for you. Father
has come back. The snow was so deep
he didn't go to Carterville, and he has
brought Mr.. Thomas with him; and
Aunt Sarah wants some wood and
kindlings for the parlor stove right
away, and mother said / might come
and help you. Aud we are going to
have warm biscuit and honey for tea.
Isn't it splendid ?'
When his old master opened the
barn door to let in the horse, and so let
him out, Tower saw the CLEAN of